Deflector for a vacuum cleaner



Oct. 20, 1970 L. D. RHOADS 3,534,429

DBFLECTOR FOR A VACUUM CLEANER Filed March 4, 1968 INVENTOR/S Loy D. RHoAos,

BY yam,

ATTORN EYS we? United States Patent 3,534,429 DEFLECTOR FOR A VACUUM CLEANER Loy D. Rhoads, Enon, Ohio, assignor to Parker Sweeper Company, Springfield, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Mar. 4, 1968, Ser. No. 710,213 Int. Cl. A47l 9/00 U.S. Cl. 15-353 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Formed member attached to the discharge outlet of vacuum to deflect and control discharge therefrom.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to vacuum cleaners of the suction type, such as, for example, shown in United States Des. Pat. 195,248, in the name of Edwin F. Oblinger. Structurally considered, units of this type do not utilize revolving brushes or other mechanical means for picking up litter or debris. But, rather, the entire pick up and discharge action is carried out only by means of a high speed impeller.

The particular unit illustrated in the design patent mentioned above is designed for use as a heavy duty vacuum in parking lots, drive in restaurants, and the like. To be commercially acceptable, such a unit must have the capacity to pick up relatively large objects, such as beer cans, milk cartons, and the like. As will be recognized by the skilled worker in the art, a vacuum system which embodies a capacity of this order must utilize a relatively high velocity impeller. This in turn creates a rather high discharge velocity.

In the unit under consideration, the discharge outlet of the vacuum is horizontally oriented. Use of the machine contemplates that the operator walk behind it, generally directly in line with the discharge path from the vacuum.

It will immediately be appreciated that the high discharge velocity and the position of the operator with respect to the discharge outlet creates a potentially dangerous situation.

Accordingly, one object of this invention, is to provide a deflector which will protect the operator from any hazard due to discharge from the machine.

Referring back to the intended use of machines of this type, it will also be apparent that the debis picked up is bulky in nature. It is, from a commercial standpoint, therefore highly desirable that the receptacle into which such debris is discharged be large enough to require only minimum work stoppage for emptying. Practical limitations, of course tend to control the maximum bag or receptacle size.

Keeping the above comments in mind, it is another very important object of this invention to provide a deflector which is associated with the discharge outlet of a vacuum cleaner and so designed to increase the refuse or debris capacity of a given receptable by a substantial amount.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Broadly considered, the deflector of this invention is secured to the generally horizontal discharge outlet of a vacuum cleaner. The deflector includes one portion which is disposed generally in a horizontal plane (parallel to axis of discharge of the vacuum), and a second portion which is generally vertically disposed. More specifically, the two portions just identified are arranged so that the line of intersection of their respective planes is angularly related to the axis of discharge. That is, when viewed from the side of the machine, the second portion of the ice deflector is tilted on the order of 20 from vertical. When viewed from the top of the machine, the second portion of the deflector is formed by making a transition from the horizontal plane to the angular plane about a horizontal axis, placed preferably at an angle of approximately to the axis of discharge.

As briefly indicated above, it has been discovered that a deflector constructed in accordance with the teachings specified in detail hereinafter accomplishes the dual objectives of providing a positive protection for the operator against injury caused by high velocity discharge from the unit, and substantially increases the effective capacity of a given receptacle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference will be made from time to time during the ensuing specification to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the invention. Identical reference numerals have been used to illustrate the same part throughout the several views in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the deflector of this invention as attached to the vacuum cleaner described above;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the deflector of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the deflector of this invention; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the deflector of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows in perspective a suction vacuum cleaner according to the prior art. Such a vacuum cleaner includes the housing 10 in which is rotatable the fan or impeller providing the suction for the unit. The inlet or nozzle is indicated at 12, and the outlet or discharge duct is indicated at 14.

The foregoing components, along with the motor indicated at 16 are mounted for movement on the chassis including the wheels 18 and handles 20 for guidance. Suitably supported between the handles 20 and secured to the outlet or discharge duct 14 is the receptacle or bag 22. The collar 14a to be described shortly serves as a retainer for the strap or the like securing the bag to the duct 14 to prevent the bag from being blown off the duct.

It should be apparent that in operation, the operator grasps the unit by the handle 20, and wheels it along the area to be cleaned. Refuse or debris is sucked up in the intake nozzle 12, passes through the impeller housing 10 and out the discharge duct 14 in a generally horizontal path of travel. It will be apparent that the operator in position between the handle 20 is directly in the path of this discharge. Accordingly, this invention is concerned with the deflector indicated generaly in FIG. 1 at 24.

Turning now to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the deflector of this invention may be described as a formed member which is attached at one end to a collar 14w by means of which the deflector assembly is bolted to one end of the discharge duct 14 of the vacuum cleaner. The portion 26 of the deflector adjacent the discharge duct 14 is disposed in a generally horizontal plane; that is, this portion of the deflector is substantially parallel to the axis of discharge indicated in FIG. 4 by the line 28.

The second portion indicated by the numeral 30 of the deflector (the other end of the deflector) is disposed in a generally vertical plane. The respective planes of the portions 26 and 30 of the deflector are arranged so that the line of intersection between them is angularly related to the axis of discharge of the device.

Empirical investigations by applicant have disclosed that an angle of substantially 75 is optimum; however,

it has been determined that the desirable results of this invention can be achieved by utilizing an angle varylng between 55 and 85 It will be observed in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 that one end of portion 26 of the deflector is arcuate in cross section (conforming generally to collar 14a and discharge duct 14), while the opposite end of the portion 26, as represented by the line 32 is substantially planar.

It will further be apparent that in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the deflector includes a curved portion 34 joining the portions 2 6 and 30 of the deflector respectively. It is believed that this curved portion promotes smooth air flow and hence facilitates achieving the objectives noted above. It will of course be understood that the results of this invention could be obtained in part if the portions 26 and 30 respectively intersected and joined each other along a straight line.

It will be apparent that in order to insure adequate protection to the operator, the portion 30 of the deflector must be of such a size to cover on the order of 70% of the area of the discharge outlet. The relationship of this portion of the deflector to the discharge outlet is clearly seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. The shape of the outermost edge of this portion of the deflector is not particularly critical.

On the other hand, the dimensioning of the portion 26 of the deflector is of some importance, primarily in achieving the optimum capacity for any given receptacle. Investigation has shown that the portion 26 should be long enough that the portion 30 of the deflector will be substantially centrally located along the axial dimension of the receptacle.

It will be apparent from the foregoing specification that numerous changes and modifications may be made without departing fro-m the scope and spirit of this invention. Accordingly, no limitations are to be implied or inferred except as specifically set forth in the claims which follow.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a vacuum cleaner of the suction type adapted to be pushed by an operator, having a receptacle disposed between said vacuum cleaner and the operator, and a rearwardly directed discharge outlet defining a horizontal axis of discharge into said receptacle; a deflector comprising: a formed member attached at one end to the discharge outlet of said vacuum and extending into said receptacle, said member having a first portion adjacent said one end lying in a nearly horizontal plane and a second portion adjacent the other end of said member lying in a nearly vertical plane, the horizontal line of intersection of said planes crossing said axis of discharge at an angle of more than and less than 85, the free end of said second portion of said member being spaced above the bottom of said receptacle. I

2. The deflector claimed in claim 1 wherein said line of intersection crosses said axis of discharge at an angle of substantially 3. The deflector claimed in claim 1 including a curved portion joining said first and said second portions, the axis of said curved portion crossing said axis of discharge at an angle of more than 55 and less than 4. The deflector claimed in claim 1 wherein one end of said first portion is arcuate in cross section, and the other end of said first portion is substantially planar.

5. The deflector claimed in claim 4 wherein said second portion is substantially planar.

6. The deflector claimed in claim 1 wherein said second portion is spaced from said discharge 'outlet by a distance on the order of /z of the axial length of the receptacle to be utilized.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,783,604 3/1957 Cahill 56--202 3,191,370 6/1965 Epstein s6 202 1,408,489 3/1922 Tracy 55-368X 1,677,726 7/1928 Nagel et a1. 30263 2,985,905 5/1961 Caufield 15 353 3,134,214 5/1964 Shaw 56-202 FOREIGN PATENTS 532,653 9/1931 Germany.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner 

